Olympic Gold medallist Jason Kenny illuminated Piccadilly station as he cycled to light-up First TransPennine Express' new and improved electrified train service (Image: Paul Heyes)

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Olympic gold medal cyclist Jason Kenny got a fleet of electric trains off to a flying start at Piccadilly station.

The 10 new First TransPennine trains will run between Manchester and Scotland replacing the current diesel engines.

The freed-up diesels will be used to ease the most-congested routes in the north.

Reaching speeds of 110mph, the electric engines will provide 18,000 extra seats a week on services to Glasgow and Edinburgh, which will also call at Manchester Airport, Wigan and Preston.

Olympic Gold medallist Jason Kenny illuminated Piccadilly station as he cycled to light-up First TransPennine Express' new and improved electrified train service (Image: Paul Heyes)

The knock-on effect will also boost capacity on services from Manchester to Leeds and Liverpool.

It means five trains – instead of four - an hour and 50,000 extra seats a week between Manchester and Leeds, with the journey time reduced by 25 minutes to just over an hour.

A new direct route between Manchester and Liverpool is reducing the journey from 58 minutes to 40 minutes. There will 4,000 extra seats between Manchester and Sheffield.

Bolton-born Jason Kenny, who scooped gold medals in team and individual sprint in London, challenged commuters to race him on static bikes during the launch event.

Olympic Gold medallist Jason Kenny illuminated Piccadilly station as he cycled to light-up First TransPennine Express' new and improved electrified train service (Image: Paul Heyes)

Nick Donovan, FTPE Managing Director, said: “This is great news for Manchester, this is the end of two-year programme and investment of £60m into more capacity and faster journey times.

Coun Andrew Fender, from Transport for Greater Manchester, welcomed the new arrivals – but voiced concerns over future fleets when the £400m electrification of the tracks around Manchester is completed.

He said: “The best rolling stock will go south. The best trains, fastest trains will go south, the oldest and less comfortable trains will stay north until we get a better system.”

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